Kevin Marshall's America
Jay Gallagher has passed away.
Not having known the man personally, I can’t provide any great words or insight. His family can and has in the link I shared above. It was truly moving and nearly brought me to tears.
It is sad that a guy who just a scant week or two ago seemed so full of life and was continually pumping out his harsh (and well deserved) criticism of State political leaders can take such a quick turn and leave us. I am thankful, however, that his family can take solace; in the comfort he was granted by the good people at Hospice, in being with him towards and at the end, at having what from all accounts is a truly wonderful family unit surrounding them (both immediate and extended), and at his passing being a relatively peaceful one considering the circumstances.
Jay Gallagher’s loss will be felt greatly in the TU blog community, as shallow as that sounds. It will also be felt in the journalistic community. But those losses pale in comparison to the absence that will be felt in the coming days, weeks, and months by his family. Although, judging by Janice and Ellen’s blog entry, it would be facetious to say it will leave a void. He still is, and will continue to be, a huge part of their lives and will always contribute greatly in memory of his spirit, ethics, and heart.
Jay was 63 years old.
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4 Responses to Jay Gallagher Passes Away
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it was just announced on channel 13’s morning news. I read his blog, as I do yours and hope that his family finds comfort in knowing he will be missed by those that knew Jay personally as well as those that only knew him through his blog.
Oh jeez, I was just reading his blog; I send his family my condolences and comfort that he isn’t in pain any longer.
I’ve been trying to decide whether to leave a comment. I only met Jay once, but I read his columns for years, first at the Ithaca Journal and then here at the Times Union.
Jay and my stepfather Tom went to college together and both ran cross-country. We had lunch in Albany a few years ago, and he seemed like a great guy. I didn’t want to mention how I knew him on his blog because Tom died of pancreatic cancer two summers ago (11 months after diagnosis). I don’t think he or his family needed to hear that, and it would have been gratuitous to say something about it.
As someone who’s been there, though, my heart goes out to his family. You never get over this kind of loss; you just learn to go on despite it.
I am one of Jay’s many former interns. His contributions to my professional and personal life are immeasurable. He will be missed.